Historic meeting between Presidents Tshisekedi and Netanyahu in New York

On 21 September 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo had the historic opportunity to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in person. This meeting marked a major turning point in the strengthening of relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Israel.

During the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the General Assembly, the two leaders held constructive discussions on various aspects of bilateral cooperation. Topics discussed included investment, security, cyber security, agriculture and infrastructure.

One of the highlights of the meeting was Israel's commitment to open an embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, in the near future. In response to this commitment, once the Israeli embassy is established, the DRC plans to move its current embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

President Tshisekedi was accompanied by senior government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Director of his Cabinet, his Special Security Adviser, his High Representative and his Privy Adviser, at the summit meeting, which lasted around thirty minutes.

This historic meeting testifies to the two nations' commitment to strengthening their partnership and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in various fields. It paves the way for an era of closer collaboration between the DRC and Israel, marking a key moment in international relations.